New Delhi: The government on Tuesday said it was
ready to revisit the new guidelines issued for granting
tourist and conference visas if there were genuine grievances.
Home Secretary Gopal K Pillai said the government has
received a number representations requesting it to reconsider
the revised guidelines.
"Government makes rules, government makes regulations
which may not be correct. But in a democracy there is a
system, we correct ourselves if a mistake is made. If error is
made, we correct them," he said addressing a seminar on
"Thought Policing or Fighting Terror; Home Ministry's Curbs on
Foreign Scholars".
Later, Pillai told reporters, "We have received a number
of representations (on conference visa) and we are examining
them. This is under consideration".
His comments came when asked whether there was any move
to revisit the new guidelines for conference visas.
According to the revised guidelines for conference visas,
prior security clearance from the Home Ministry is required in
respect of participants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China,
Iran, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Iraq, Sudan, foreigners of
Pakistani origin and stateless persons.
Besides, the Home Ministry's clearance is also required
if the participation involves visit to restricted or protected
areas in India or to areas affected by terrorism, militancy
and extremism, like Jammu and Kashmir and North Eastern
states, and if the conference involves politically sensitive
subjects.
Referring to the restrictions imposed on issuing tourist
visa, the Home Secretary said the government was open to amend
any rules if there was any "mistake".
Pillai wondered how many of the six million genuine
tourists, which visit India every year, would like to come
back to India within 60 days.
"Six million tourists come and go. How many of them come
within 60 days? Possibly not even 0.1 per cent of the total
number of tourists," he said.
The recent guidelines on tourist visa stipulate a gap of
at least two months between two visits to the country.
Pillai, however, said the government was ready to examine
if any genuine tourist is harassed following the new
guidelines.
"If the problem is of that 0.1 per cent, we are ready to
see how best that can be corrected. Government is willing to
see how best the problem of that 0.1 per cent people is
solved. But no decision can satisfy all people. That is part
of the problem. That is the government system," he said.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, March 10, 2010, 00:04